USM-L2 Candidate Guide (2015-16): 08 February 2016
2015 -16
Candidate Guide
Level 2 Award in Understanding Substance Misuse
(USM-L2)
USM-L2 is regulated by the Office of the Qualifications & Examinations Regulator (Ofqual)
Qualification/learning aim number: 500/4684/6
Counselling & Psychotherapy Central
Awarding Body (CPCAB)
P.O. Box 1768
Glastonbury
Somerset
BA6 8YP
Tel. 01458 850 350
Fax: 01458 852 055
Website: www.cpcab.co.uk
Email: admin@cpcab.co.uk
USM-L2 Candidate Guide
Contents
Page
1. Introduction for candidates
3
2. Qualification structure
3
3. Internal assessment
3
4. External assessment
4
5. Equal opportunities and reasonable adjustments
5
6. Enquiries, appeals and complaints
5
Appendices
Page
1. Candidate Learning Record
7
2. Completion Statement
8
3. DANOS mapping
9
This document can be downloaded from www.cpcab.co.uk/public_docs/usm-l2_candidate_guide.
It is intended to provide information that will enable you to maximise your learning on this course and to
complete the qualification successfully.
Find a Counsellor – www.findacounsellor.info – is an online directory sponsored by CPCAB
and designed to put potential clients (or employers) in direct touch with counsellors.
It provides the ability to search for a suitable counsellor using several different search criteria,
for example:
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Location (map-based search, or else via post-code, town, county, country etc)
Area(s) of special expertise
Language spoken
Type of client seen
Gender
The search facility is free to use, whilst inclusion in the directory (available only to fully
qualified counsellors) currently costs just £29.95 per year!
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© CPCAB 2015
USM-L2 Candidate Guide
1. Introduction for candidates
You are undertaking a course that leads to a nationally regulated qualification awarded by the Counselling
and Psychotherapy Central Awarding Body (CPCAB) – the only Ofqual approved awarding body to
specialise in the field of counselling, supervision and related subjects.
This qualification is for candidates who wish to develop their knowledge and awareness of substance
misuse. The knowledge gained would be useful in a variety of settings, both personal and professional, for
example:
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supporting those working in Tier 1 services by providing an overview of the subject;
enhancing understanding for those already working therapeutically – i.e. counsellors, support
workers, key workers etc;
benefiting parents and carers by virtue of increased knowledge and awareness;
helping and supporting others either in a voluntary or employed capacity.
The qualification is mapped to Drug and Alcohol National Occupational Standards (DANOS).
(See Appendix 2).
2. Qualification structure
This qualification is made up of seven learning outcomes and associated assessment criteria.
Tip:
Think of the assessment criteria as ‘learning tasks’ which you have to complete and then record so that
your tutor can see you have achieved the task.
You must be assessed by your tutor as Proficient in all seven learning outcomes in order to achieve the
qualification.
3. Internal assessment
Art students keep a portfolio of their coursework which they use to show other people what they, as artists,
have learnt. In a similar way you need to keep a portfolio of your coursework, which you can use to show
your tutor what you have learnt. Keeping a portfolio of your coursework will not only provide your tutor
with evidence of your learning but also really help you with the learning process itself.
You also need to complete your Candidate Learning Record (CLR – see Appendix 1) which should be
placed at the front of your portfolio to signpost the evidence for each criterion. The CLR has brief notes
beside each criterion to help you understand what is being asked for and guidelines on how to record your
learning.
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USM-L2 Candidate Guide
You must give one piece of documentary evidence (in your CLR) for each assessment criteria: 1
Documents – You must include the regular exploration of your learning (called the learning review) which
contains your thoughts, feelings and reflections on the input, discussions, experiences and readings for the
course. You begin this right at the beginning of the course. You must also include here an assignment (such
as an essay) and tutorial records.

See USM-L2 Qualification Document for a summary of minimum assessment requirements.
CPCAB recommends that you attach a Criteria Assessment Sheet (CAS) – available to download from our
website – to any work you hand in to your tutor for assessment. Your tutor can use the CAS sheet to tell
you which criteria you have met and to give you helpful feedback throughout the course. In this way you
can gradually collect evidence as you go along and keep track of what evidence you still need to look out
for.
Tip:
Meeting criteria is important, but the overall learning experience should not be criteria driven. The
journey is as important as the destination.
After you have completed your portfolio your tutor will look at the evidence you have referenced in your
Candidate Learning Record (CLR) and assess whether or not you have completed the assessment criteria
and achieved the learning outcomes. S/he may decide that you are not yet Proficient – and will identify
what you still need to complete/achieve and how you might work towards doing this.
 Your tutor will give you further guidance on developing your portfolio, the types of coursework
and filling in the Candidate Learning Record.
The final assessment of your work is recorded on the Completion Statement at the end of your Candidate
Learning Record and your work may be sent to CPCAB for independent verification.
Note that all the work you include in your portfolio is assessable material, so it may be seen not just by your
tutor but also by all those involved in your training centre’s internal assessment process or any associated
appeal or complaint. Such people may include the internal moderator and verifier as well as the CPCAB
verifier.
4. External assessment
There is no external assessment for this qualification.
Independent verification: Your portfolio is sent to CPCAB for independent verification. The portfolios are
retained by CPCAB and cannot be returned. Therefore please ensure you make a photocopy if required.
1
Please note that if it’s appropriate you can reference the same section of their portfolio, or the same piece of work, a number of times.
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© CPCAB 2015
USM-L2 Candidate Guide
5. Equal opportunities and reasonable adjustments
In order to make sure that assessment is fair to all candidates, CPCAB requires all registered centres to have
an appropriate candidate support system in place and to make appropriate arrangements to meet individual
assessment needs. You can ensure that your own learning and assessment needs are being met by discussing
your own needs/difficulties with your tutor, who can ensure that you receive the appropriate support at
your centre.
 Please talk to your tutor as soon as you start the course about any additional support that you may
need regarding learning and assessment.
Both CPCAB and centres are required to recognise and comply with both the spirit and the word of equal
opportunities legislation. Previous Acts were amalgamated into the Equality Act 2010 (click here for more
information).
For details of CPCAB’s Equal Opportunities Policy: www.cpcab.co.uk/public_docs/equal_opportunities_policy
6. Enquiries, appeals and complaints
If you have any enquiries, complaints or appeals about the internal assessment of your work, or about any
aspects of your learning experience on the course, these should be addressed to your training centre which
has its own internal complaints and appeals procedures.
If you contact CPCAB directly on these issues you will normally be advised to go back to your centre.
However, you can visit this webpage to read or download CPCAB policies on Complaints, Appeals,
Malpractice & Maladministration, and Whistleblowing.
© CPCAB 2015
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USM-L2 Candidate Guide
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© CPCAB 2015
USM-L2 Candidate Guide
Appendix 1: Candidate Learning Record – Level 2 Award in
Understanding Substance Misuse (USM-L2)
Instruction:
Print out (or otherwise detach) this Candidate Learning Record and the Completion Statement which
follows it. Then insert both of them in the front of your portfolio.
USM-L2
Learning outcomes
Assessment criteria
The learner will:
The learner can:
1. Know the effects of a range
of drugs, including alcohol
2. Know the harm associated
with different substances
and related behaviours
1. 1
Identify the three main drug groups and the
characteristics of each.
1.2
Describe the effects of a range of substances
including alcohol.
1.3
Recognise the main signs and symptoms
associated with substance use/misuse.
Portfolio reference
2.1 State the routes of administration.
2.2
Identify risks to health posed by
intravenous drug use.
2.3
Describe the signs and symptoms of
overdose of drugs and alcohol.
2.4
Identify the link between HIV/AIDS,
hepatitis and substance use/misuse.
2.5
State how a range of drugs and alcohol use
impacts on pregnancy.
3. Be aware of diversity in
relation to substance
use/misuse
3.1
State what constitutes acceptable and nonacceptable drugs and their usage.
3.2
Identify social assumptions and stereotypes
around substance misuse.
4. Understand why people
misuse drugs/alcohol
4.1
State possible reasons for use/misuse of
drugs and alcohol.
4.2
Describe patterns of substance use/misuse.
5. Be aware of own responses to
issues in relation to
substance use/misuse
5.1
Identify own attitude towards drug use and
drug users.
5.2
Identify personal assumptions in relation to
substance misuse.
6. Know the social and
economic effects of
substance misuse
6.1
Describe the effect substance misuse could
have on the community.
7. Use study skills within the
learning process
7.1
Use reflection and feedback to identify
progress and learning needs.
.
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USM-L2 Candidate Guide
Appendix 2: Completion Statement for USM-L2
Completion statement for Candidate Learning Record
Level 2 Award in Understanding Substance Misuse
Learning
Outcome
Title
Contraindications
present Y/N
1
Know the effects of a range of drugs, including alcohol
2
Know the harm associated with different substances and related
behaviours
3
Be aware of diversity in relation to substance use/misuse
4
Understand why people use/misuse drugs
5
Be aware of own responses to issues in relation to substance
use/misuse
6
Know the social and economic effects of substance misuse
7
Use study skills within the learning process
Tutor signature if learning
outcome has been
achieved
To be completed by core tutor:
Where the learning outcome has not been achieved please:
(a) state clearly which learning outcome this relates to.
(b) give specific and relevant reasons why the learning outcome has not been achieved.
(c) record proposed course of action agreed between tutor and candidate to address/remedy concerns.
Learning
outcome
Details of relevant contra-indications
Proposed course of action
I declare this Candidate Learning Record to be a true and authentic record of evidence submitted in my portfolio:
Candidate name: ................................................ Candidate signature: ....................................... Date: ....................
I declare that this Completion Statement is a true record of the candidate’s achievement:
I declare that this candidate has achieved all the above qualification requirements for USM-L2:


Tutor name: ........................................................ Tutor signature: .............................................. Date: ....................
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© CPCAB 2015
USM-L2 Candidate Guide
Appendix 2: DANOS Mapping
USM-L2
Learning outcomes
The learner will:
1.
Know the effects of a range of
drugs, including alcohol
Assessment criteria
The learner can:
DANOS mapping
1.1 Identify the three main drug groups and the
characteristics of each
AA1.1
Recognise indications of
substance misuse.
2.1 State the routes of administration
AA1.1
2.2 Identify risks to health posed by intravenous drug
use
Recognise indications of
substance misuse.
AB2.1
Enable individuals to adopt
safe practices associated with
substance misuse.
AB5.1
Assess the immediate risk of
danger to the individual.
3.1 State what constitutes acceptable and nonacceptable drugs and their usage
AA1.1
Recognise indications of
substance misuse.
3.2 Identify social assumptions and stereotypes
around substance misuse
AA6.2
Respect the diversity and
difference of individuals and
key people.
AC1.1
Reflect on your practice.
AA1.1
Recognise indications of
substance misuse.
AA6.2
Respect the diversity and
difference of individuals and
key people.
AB10
Relate to families, parents and
carers.
AA1.1
Recognise indications of
substance misuse.
1.2 Describe the effects of a range of substances
including alcohol
1.3 Recognise the main signs and symptoms
associated with substance use/misuse
2.
Know the harm associated with
different substances and related
behaviours
2.3 Describe the signs and symptoms of overdose of
drugs and alcohol
2.4 Identify the link between HIV/AIDS, hepatitis
and substance use/misuse
2.5 State how a range of drugs and alcohol use
impacts on pregnancy
3.
Be aware of diversity in relation
to substance use/misuse
4. Understand why people misuse
drugs/alcohol
4.1 State possible reasons for use/misuse of drugs and
alcohol
4.2 Describe patterns of substance use/misuse
5.
Be aware of own responses to
issues in relation to substance
use/misuse
5.1 Identify own attitude towards drug use and drug
users
6. Know the social and economic
effects of substance misuse
6.1 Describe the effect substance misuse could have
on the community
5.2 Identify personal assumptions in relation to
substance misuse
© CPCAB 2015
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